Nestled in a spectacular valley in the east of São Miguel is the village of Furnas, known for being at the center of the island’s volcanic activity. Its unique location in an active volcanic basin means magma still bubbles close to the earth’s surface, creating a thriving environment for hot springs, mud pools, and sulfur vents. We loved all the geothermal things to do in Furnas, and even found an amazing food scene. It was our favorite town in the Azores! Here are our top tips for activities, hotels, and the best restaurants.
Things to Do in Furnas
Furnas is located on the edge of Furnas Lake, on the east side of São Miguel. It’s easy to get to by car, taking about 30-40 minutes from Ponta Delgada, which is where we stayed on our vacation. (See all hotels in Ponta Delgada)
Although you can see all the main things to do in Furnas in just half a day, we visited the town several times. Each time we explored a different thermal bath and returned to my favorite restaurant on the island (see below)! For this reason, we wish we’d stayed here for a few days on our Sao Miguel itinerary; it would make the perfect base for the eastern half of your trip!
1. Visit Lagoa das Furnas and See Geothermal Cooking
The top thing to do in Furnas is to see geothermal activity up close and personal! Head to the beautiful Furnas Lake (Lagoa das Furnas), a vast volcanic crater lake surrounded by lush greenery. You can park near the lake and walk around the water’s edge, stopping off at cute viewpoints along the way.
Tip: If you want something a bit more challenging, opt for one of the mountain hikes on the surrounding peaks. We also saw lots of people canoeing on the lake (you can hire a canoe here), which looked like the best way to get a unique perspective of Furnas.
Extra Stop: Capela de Nossa Senhora das Vitórias
On the edge of Furnas lake is a striking stone-church that is well worth a quick stop off on your walk or drive. The dramatic gothic-style stands out in the luscious natural surroundings, and if you visit on a misty day, it can even feel a bit spooky! Here is the exact location.
We had a rental car which gave us a bit more freedom to explore. However, if you don’t have a car, you can book a tour like this one which includes all the top things to do in Furnas.
Fumaroles (Geothermal Field)
The biggest draw of Furnas Lake is the incredible geothermal activity that takes place here. Right next to the lake are the Fumaroles, steam vents that are located within the piping hot volcanic soil. Most unique of all is that locals actually use these to cook a traditional stew underground! This area really reminded us of volcanic areas in Iceland.
The actual eco park where you can see the Fumarolas is free to enter, but we had to pay 3 EUR for the parking. From here, we made our way across the boardwalks, smelling the strong (!) sulfur from the steaming vents. Although it would be better to get here early for the most tranquility, we enjoyed watching the locals removing the stews just before lunch (around noon).
You can also visit the Fumaroles on this tour of Furnas. It includes a geothermally-cooked lunch!
Tip: Tony’s used to be the place in town to go to eat Cozido (the local stew cooked underground). Don’t worry if you can’t get a reservation, though; nowadays, lots of the town’s restaurants serve the local delicacy.
2. Parque da Grená
From Icelandic-style volcanic landscapes to a tropical forest that feels straight out of Costa Rica: now it’s time to explore the breathtaking Parque de Grená. This beautifully maintained park was one of my favorite things to do in Furnas; we love that the area offers so many different types of landscapes to explore.
Tip: Start at 6 → 4 → 3 → 2 → 1, then return via 5. Doing it this way means you avoid a steep staircase near 5 (300–500 steps) and allows you to see more waterfalls along the way. It takes about 1 hour to reach the top and a bit less to return.
Entrance and Opening Times: 10 EUR/11.70 USD per person. Check the opening times here.
3. Soak in the Thermal Baths (Top Thing to do in Furnas!)
The Azores are known for their thermal baths, and Furnas is one of the best places to enjoy them!
Note: the busiest season in the Azores is from late May to early Fall, when you definitely need to reserve your thermal bath tickets in advance. Make sure to wear dark-colored swimwear, as the water can stain your clothes orange.
Poça da Dona Beija
Poça da Dona Beija is our favorite thing to do in Furnas, and maybe on the whole island! This smaller, scenic hot spring features several stone pools built along a hot ‘yellow’ river. It’s the perfect place to soak tired muscles after a long hike – or simply enjoy the earthy atmosphere, which is super relaxing because of the thin mist that covers the fern-covered surroundings. It really felt like a natural spa!
Tip: This hot spring is located only a 20-minute walk from Furnas village, but we do recommend pre-booking a timeslot online, as there are no tickets sold on-site. We booked ours on the same day, but availability may vary depending on the season. We also saw the option to join this unique nighttime tour!
Entrance fee: 12-16 EUR for a pre-booked timeslot (90 minutes). There are three pools and a hot river, changing rooms, showers, and lockers. Check opening times here.
Parque Terra Nostra
Parque Terra Nostra is a bigger series of pools in Furnas with the best scenery! The experience also includes a botanical park and garden walk; there are at least 300 ferns, palms, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, and grottoes that line the pathway to the pool. It takes around 2-3 hours to explore.
The main thermal pool is steaming with iron-rich thermal water at around 37-40 °C. Additionally, there are two smaller, hot tub-style pools with jets (I loved this feature!). It’s one of the most popular things to do in Furnas, so make sure to book ahead here.
Entrance fee: 17 EUR for adults. You can pre-book your tickets or purchase them at the entrance. There’s free 24/7 entry for hotel guests staying at the Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, which looked beautiful. Includes parking, one main pool, two jacuzzis, changing rooms, showers, and a towel service.
Our recommendation: We preferred Poça da Dona Beija for the bath itself, but Terra Nostra offered a more expansive, scenic experience overall. It really depends on what you’re looking for!
4. Caldeiras Vulcânicas
Right in the center of town, we were shocked to find that there are more steam vents! The public geothermal area has bubbling hot mud and springs on display, which was surreal to see. The smell of the sulfur is as strong as you would expect, but we got used to it pretty quickly. Make sure not to go too close, as it’s extremely hot!
Here is the location of the parking. Otherwise, you can park anywhere in town and walk down.
5. Garden of Quenturas
Bring a picnic with you and head to the Garden of Quenturas for lunch. This peaceful public garden sits right in the center of town and is home to a geothermal river and a beautiful garden trail you can follow through pretty trees, flowers, and fountains.
Tip: While you’re walking around town, look out for the pretty Moinho de Água, a small museum-style water mill which you can visit. It’s not the most popular thing to do in Furnas, but we enjoyed this as a quick stop on our route! (Here is the exact location)
6. Miradouro do Pico do Ferro
Before you leave Furnas, don’t miss out on seeing one of the most beautiful viewpoints of the geothermal valley. Miradouro do Pico do Ferro is located on the road leading out of Furnas, and the panoramic views over the lake are stunning; we loved being able to spot all the incredible places we’d just visited.
If you don’t have a car on your visit to Furnas, you can join this tour which also makes a stop at the Miradouro.
Cafes & Restaurants in Furnas
The dining options in São Miguel didn’t blow us away, but of all the places we visited, Furnas definitely had the best food scene! What’s more, eating the geothermally-cooked stew is one of the top things to do in Furnas.
For such a small town, I was surprised by the variety of delicious things we ate. Here are our favorites:
- A Quinta: A popular cozy restaurant (this was my favorite; we went back 2 times!). Reserve a table here.
- Restaurante Tony’s: Delicious local dishes, including the geothermal-cooked stew. Find the location on maps here.
- Queijaria Furnense: Cheese shop and steakhouse located here. The cheesy garlic bread gets a special mention!
- Bolos Lêvedos Bakery: Famous for its traditional sweet bread (bolo lêvedo), perfect for a snack or takeaway.
Where to Stay in Furnas
Furnas is a great place to book a hotel on your São Miguel itinerary; it’s the perfect jumping-off point for discovering all the geothermal activities and luscious landscapes of the area. Anywhere in the center is ideal, as you can still walk to all the top things to do in Furnas, like the thermal pools. Alternatively, if you rent a car, you have a bit more flexibility to stay further out in nature.
How to Visit
From Ponta Delgada, it’s a 50-minute drive to Furnas. If you don’t have a rental car, you can take a bus, but please be advised that this takes much longer with a lot of stops along the way. (See the schedules here)
We recommend to rent a car in Azores through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here.
If you’re visiting Furnas for the day, we think joining a tour is the best way to see it (if you don’t have a rental car). You can book a tour like this one, which visit a few of the top things to do in Furnas, and include return transportation from bigger cities like Ponta Delgada.
Best Time to Visit
We visited São Miguel at the end of May/the beginning of June, and it was terrific! The average daily temperature was 20 degrees, with some sunny days. Towards the end of the day, when the temperatures are cooler, is a good time to enjoy the thermal pools in Furnas; we can imagine that in the summer it would be too hot!
Note: The Azores islands are situated in the middle of the Atlantic, about halfway between Portugal and North America. The location means the weather can be pretty wild and temperamental. We experienced every kind of weather pattern while we were there, so it’s best to check the live webcams before you visit all the top things to do in Furnas.
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